Whats exactly a "JRPG"?

To this day, I am not quite sure what does "JRPG" mean- Yes, I know it means "Japanese Role Playing Game", but this term apparently its not just for games that were made in japan, but rather, certain aspect or stuff in said games (Like history, or characters, I dunno) Is this true? What aspects do define a JRPG? Or merely begin made in Japan is what makes them an JRPG?

So far, from what I read, JRPG for half the people is either a game that has usual japanese game stuff on it (What stuff are they refering exactly varies), or... you know... simply a game that has been made in japan...

So... What is exactly true? I would like to know :D

EDIT: Before anyone decides to link me to the JRPG article, let me say that I honestly couldt understand that either (might be because I am spanish and whatnot... but still, the definition seems like a discussion that most people can agree on what a JRPG is, so this thread still has a reason to exist! lol)...

EDIT 2: Maybe I am asking for much, but examples of JRPG might be nice.

edited 10th May '12 6:16:55 PM by NONAMEGIVEN

"That is not dead which can eternal lie, And with strange aeons even death itself may die."

Not another one of these threads.

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A RPG made in Japan?

Alt account of Angeldog 2437.

I am sorry, but I took my time to search for identical threads and I havent found anything at all.

(Its weird thougt, one would think than this would be a common doubt, but I guess I am on the minory)

edited 10th May '12 6:12:48 PM by NONAMEGIVEN

"That is not dead which can eternal lie, And with strange aeons even death itself may die."

WARNING: EXTREMELY BROAD DEFINITION INCOMING. EXCEPTIONS ARE TO BE EXPECTED

a JRPG is an RPG that generally is linear in nature, both plot wise and exploration wise, has much more restricted character creation system(if it has one at all, sometime you can't even name your characters), and tends to have plots on a much larger, worldwide scale.

edited 10th May '12 6:17:47 PM by Blissey1

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Extra Credits devoted a three-episode feature to trying to find the answer, so I'll just be linking those as a starting point.

None of which, just to make clear, are necessarily bad things

edited 10th May '12 6:36:32 PM by hnd03

So. Let's all pause for a moment to smell what the Rock was, is, and forever will be... cooking.—Cave Johnson

Of course.

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What Blissey said.

Basically, it's a stat-heavy adventure game that removes any real role-playing aspects.

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x5

Um... Interesting...

I will put a fairly recent example (that I played). Dragon age is a jrpg. (?).

If so then I guess I fit more for WRPG.

edited 10th May '12 7:12:45 PM by NONAMEGIVEN

"That is not dead which can eternal lie, And with strange aeons even death itself may die."

No offense. But this is like the third thread like this I've seen. And as far as I understand, a JRPG is an RPG made in Japan (duh), and common attributes include fixed characters, long duration, turn-based gameplay, epic odds and ridiculous hair.

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I prefer this.

JRPG's generally try to tell a good story, or at least an entertaining story. Hence why they're often more linear and have set characters.

WRPG's generally try to give you the freedom to make your own character and story. Hence why they're often more open and have multiple endings.

A JRPG is a special kind of dish, prepared by leaving a two-month old boot to soak in a mix of virgin olive oil and chocolate syrup.

Also known as a "Jerpeg."

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Is it a Role Playing Game? Is it made in Japan? Congrats, it's a JRPG. It could play like what we think of as a WRPG (and a WRPG could play like a JRPG), but if it's made in Japan, it's a JRPG.

My point is, I do think people overcomplicate it and make too big of a deal about it. No offense.

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I'll take that a la mode

edited 10th May '12 7:31:27 PM by hnd03

So. Let's all pause for a moment to smell what the Rock was, is, and forever will be... cooking.—Cave Johnson

JRPGS and WRPGS are meaningless definitions created to try and define certain aspects of the nebulous genre known as the RPG that has never had a strong definition anyway. Country of origin is the only accurate definition, and even then both of them have plenty of examples of high-profile games that do not meet common stereotypes of their genre.

a JRPG is a role-playing game developed in Japan.

For example, Demon's/Dark Souls

edited 10th May '12 7:39:56 PM by hnd03

So. Let's all pause for a moment to smell what the Rock was, is, and forever will be... cooking.—Cave Johnson

Exactly. What's so hard about this?

Like I said, exceptions are to be expected. RPG culture has spread so much these days that you can expect to find games made on either side of the ocean that seem like they should come from the other side.

edited 10th May '12 8:08:38 PM by Blissey1

XP granted for befriending a giant magical spider!

JRPG isn't game made in japan as western people can make jrpg. And WRPG isn't rpg made in western countries as japanese can make one too.

JRPG is narrative focused rpg while WRPG is character focused rpg. Don't make me post Extra Credits video

That Extra Credits video is wrong.

WRPG is one made in the west. A JRPG is one made in Japan. That. Is. It.

Honestly, just like I don't have to agree with that terrible Extra Credits video, nobody has to agree with my definition or anyone else's.

But if the argument is that the mechanics define the game, and not the country*

of origin, I'd rather see them retitled as eastern/western style role playing game.

Their point was more that what we usually think of when it comes to JPRG's and WRPG's should be considered different genres due to having different reasons to play. This is independent of where they were made, so we should come up with names for them. Labeling them off where they were made is pretty pointless.

x4 The same video that claims P3 and P4 started learning choice/consequence from WRP Gs, despite the fact that they're part of a much larger series that has been using choice and consequence from the very beginning?

Or the one that claims that turn-based combat systems are inherently lame and JRP Gs don't experiment with their combat systems?

There were some damned good points in that video, but let's be real here.

edited 10th May '12 8:22:20 PM by JotunofBoredom

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